The eagerly awaited Delhi–Dehradun Expressway is projected to be fully operational by October 2025, according to official statements in Parliament. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is leading the project, which aims to relieve pressure on Delhi’s overburdened traffic corridors and dramatically reduce journey times to Uttarakhand’s hill capital.
At a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Transport Minister confirmed that this access‑controlled, 210‑km expressway is being built at an estimated capital cost of ₹11,868.6 crore. Designed for speeds up to 100 km/h, the highway is expected to slash a typical 6.5‑hour Delhi–Dehradun journey to just 2–2.5 hours. The route will originate near Akshardham Temple in East Delhi and traverse key Uttar Pradesh districts including Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, and Saharanpur before terminating at Dehradun. The project includes six to eight lanes, elevated and greenfield segments, wildlife protection corridors, and over 16 major entry‑exit points.
In total, the infrastructure features flyovers, 113 underpasses, five railway overbridges, a 12‑km elevated wildlife corridor, advanced monitoring systems, and passenger amenities. The first 18 km from Akshardham to Loni is slated to be toll‑free, easing short‑distance commuter impacts. Environmental mitigation forms a key part of the project’s planning. Over 17,900 trees have been felled and transplanted, and 157.2 hectares of land allocated for compensatory afforestation at a cost of ₹22.05 crore. An additional ₹40 crore has been earmarked to support eco‑restoration efforts in the Shivalik and Dehradun forest divisions. Avenue plantations of 50,600 trees have been undertaken along the highway’s right of way.
The expressway incorporates wildlife safety features such as animal underpasses through the elevated stretch over Rajaji National Park—the longest in Asia. Structural design accommodates conservation efforts while ensuring high‑speed traffic flow. Urban planners highlight that the expressway will provide relief to the congested Delhi–Meerut corridor and help decongest city arterial roads. By cutting travel time and enhancing regional mobility, the route is expected to support both tourism and logistics in the Delhi‑Uttarakhand corridor.
With full commissioning expected by October, preliminary testing and phased opening are already underway. The Ministry has affirmed that any remaining technical approvals and operational clearances are on track to meet the timeline. This expressway exemplifies India’s transition toward sustainable, high-speed highway infrastructure. If executed as scheduled, it will reshape connectivity between the capital and northern India, while setting standards in ecological planning, commuter convenience, and inter-state mobility.
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